HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-24-2022 WS MinutesPm 5
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES 0 I + aOaA
JANUARY 24, 2022
WORK SESSION
The City Commission of the City of Sanford, Florida, met in Work
Session on Monday, January 24, 2022, at 4:00 PM, in the City Commission Chambers, 1"
Floor, City Hall, and 300 North Park Avenue, Sanford, Florida.
Present: Mayor Art Woodruff
Vice Mayor Kerry S. Wiggins, Sr.
Commissioner Sheena R. Britton (Arrived 4:14 PM)
Commissioner Patrick Austin
Commissioner Patty Mahany (Arrived 4:58 PM)
City Manager Norton N. Bonaparte, Jr.
Assistant City Attorney Lonnie Groot
Deputy City Clerk Cathy LoTempio
Absent: City Attorney William L. Colbert
City Clerk Traci Houchin
Mayor Woodruff called the meeting to order at 4:09 PM.
1. Presentation Impact Fee Waiver by Andrew Thomas, Community Relations and
Neighborhood Engagement Director.
Mr. Thomas provided an update on the effects of impact fee waivers
pertaining to affordable housing. Due to conflicting schedules, the meeting to review the
data that was collected from surrounding County's comparing the impact fee waivers had
to be rescheduled.
Mr. Thomas announced due to personal reasons he would be resigning
effective March 10, 2022 and his replacement would attend the next meeting.
Commissioner Britton thanked Mr. Thomas for being a good teacher and thanked him for
all his hard work.
2. Discussion on the 417 Connector to the Sanford Airport by Mayor Woodruff.
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WORK SESSION
Mayor Woodruff said that Seminole County Commissioner Dallari would
be speaking to each Commissioner regarding the 417 Connector to the Sanford Airport.
He said that Seminole County wrote a letter to the Expressway Authority regarding a
direct path from 417 to the Sanford Airport. The Expressway Authority has put this out to
bid and would like to know to if the City and the Commission support this plan.
Commissioner Austin expressed disappointment in that the Seminole
County Commission is asking the City Commission for their support after the fact. He
did say that the good news is, Seminole County will be paying for the project.
Commissioner Britton said she does not know enough about the project to
comment at this time.
Mayor Woodruff asked City staff if they are aware of this project. Bilal
Iftikhar, Director of Public Works and Utilities, displayed a map of the plans. He said in
his opinion, the ramps will devalue the surrounding properties and that this will not be an
easy project.
Commissioner Britton asked Mayor Woodruff if he supports this project.
Mayor Woodruff said yes, he believes that the concept looks good and he feels that it is a
good idea. This item will be placed on the February 14, 2022 Work Session for further
discussion.
3. Discussion Re: Criteria for the Acceptance of Donated Art to the City of Sanford.
Virginia Poe, Public Art Commission (PAC) Chair, and Lisa Holder,
Communications Officer and City staff liaison for PAC, discussed the City's criteria for
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JANUARY 24, 2022
WORK SESSION
the acceptance of public art. Ms. Poe asked the Commission for their thoughts on donated
Public Art. Mayor Woodruff suggested that PAC should come up with the criteria and it
should include: who will provide the maintenance of the art, how long would the art last,
and would it be removed after a certain amount of time.
Commissioner Britton said she does not think PAC needs to come before
the Commission to set the criteria. This should be done by PAC.
Mr. Bonaparte said that currently the City does not have a policy for the
acceptance of public art.
Commissioner Austin suggested that legal and risk management be
involved regarding the placement of art on City property or potential hazards, such as
people climbing on the art. He suggested that PAC be selective when receiving art and
not to accept everything.
Commissioner Britton said the utility box wraps are amazing, great job!
Ms. Poe thanked the Commission and said that they are bright, colorful and should last
about five years. She said PAC meets tomorrow and will discuss preparing a policy for
the criteria when accepting public art.
4. Update on the Heritage Park Project
Mr. Bonaparte said that both attorneys for the Heritage Park Project met
with City Attorneys, William Colbert and Lonnie Groot as well as local attorney, Frank
Iopollo and Mayor Woodruff. At this time, the City is waiting on an agreement and a
proposal from Sanford Waterfront Partners. The City has hired Helen Ford, a local Real
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JANUARY 24, 2022
WORK SESSION
Estate Attorney to represent the City in this matter. Commissioner Britton asked how
long this will take, as the project is already delayed.
After a brief discussion Mr. Bonaparte said this item will be continued on
tonight's agenda.
5. Regular Meeting Items — additional information
Mr. Bonaparte addressed the proposal on redistricting. Lonnie Groot,
Assistant City Attorney said this year Districts 1 and 2 would be up for election and
Districts 3, 4, 5 and 6 would be up for election in 2024, after the committee revises the
maps for the six districts. After a brief discussion it was determined when the City goes
to six districts, the number of the District will be determined by where the current
Commissioners live.
Commissioner Britton suggested organizing another committee. Mayor
Woodruff suggested having maps available so when the committee wants to see what it
will look like with the six districts, the City will already have a draft. Commissioner
Austin asked the Commission to consider how expensive this will be. Mayor Woodruff
said that he would like to keep the current members of the Redistricting Committee and
expand the committee to include additional residents. Vice Mayor Wiggins said the
majority/minority district would be reduced. Commissioner Austin said each district
should be re-evaluated as many people are missing.
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Mayor Woodruff said the Commission should inform the Committee if the
Commission wants to go to six districts. The Commission will continue this discussion at
the March Work Session.
Mr. Bonaparte said there are a few additional items for discussion. The
first one being, Cecil Smith, Police Chief, to provide an update on the noise complaints
downtown. Chief Smith provided the Commission with a handout that listed the
information on noise complaints since July 1, 2021. There were a total of 46 calls for
service on noise complaints; 30 were anonymous callers, 14 were citizens and 2 were
employees.
6. Briefing Items
Lonnie Groot, Assistant City Attorney, said there is an add-on item for
tonight's agenda that he has placed at the Commission seats. He said that this item is
regarding an Opioid Litigation settlement for $14,000 and delegates authority to the
Mayor to execute documents for the Opioid Litigation.
Mr. Bonaparte said it is staff's recommendation that the Commission
approve to take legal action against the current Marina Lessee. Mr. Groot provided a brief
background of the current lessee, the right of first refusal and the search for a
management company. This will be an action item on tonight's agenda.
Mr. Thomas gave an update on the status of the property behind Westside
Community Center. The City has spoken with attorneys and is going to get a second
opinion on an appraisal.
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Commissioner Britton expressed the importance of a field for the
community. She asked who would be taking Mr. Thomas's responsibilities, as he had
many. She does not want to see these items fall behind. She would like to continue
receiving updates at the meetings.
Vice Mayor Wiggins assured Commissioner Britton he has been in
communication with City staff over the past two years regarding this property. He
promised he would make sure he stays on top of this. He knows the children need a place
to play.
Commissioner Austin said the City has invested over a million dollars in
our youth at the Eastside Center. This is something that all of us Commissioners have
been fighting for, for years. As we all know, these things take time. He said the City does
not currently own four, five or six acres for fields.
Mr. Thomas provided an update on the Henderson property. There is an
interested party on the property, however, this property has not been advertised and is not
officially on the market to be sold.
Mr. Groot said the Henderson property was donated to the City years ago
for a particular purpose. This property was to be used for parks and recreation for the
Goldsboro area. The price cannot be negotiated in the sale of the property because of the
conditions on the donation.
Commissioner Mahany asked how big the Henderson Property is. Mr.
Thomas said 2.4 acres.
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Commissioner Austin asked if there was discussion regarding a swap. Mr.
Thomas said yes, there was, but the City does not have seven acres to swap. There was
also an option for a long term lease.
7. City Manager Comments
Mr. Bonaparte said he would be getting with each of the Commission
members to set up one on one meetings for the next year.
Mayor Woodruff asked if the Commission has come up with any boards
they would like to be taken off of. Commissioner Mahany said she has a big problem
with Community Services Block Grant Board. She said the board continues to change the
meeting times and she is not able to get there at 4 PM. Commissioner Britton said she has
had a difficult time getting there, as well.
Mayor Woodruff asked the Deputy City Clerk if there is a link to
Municode on the new website. Cathy LoTempio, Deputy City Clerk, said yes but it says
Charter. If you click on Charter it takes you to the Municode site. The Clerk's Office will
revise this on the website.
Mayor Woodruff said the furniture has been removed from the alley
between 11th and 12th Street.
Mayor Woodruff asked Mr. Bonaparte the status of the Goldsboro
rezoning. Eileen Hinson, Director of Planning and Zoning, said the City is still working
with the Consultant, but because of COVID the Community Meetings stopped. The City
is working on getting Community meetings scheduled. The project has not been
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abandoned, just slowed down. Mayor Woodruff asked Ms. Hinson if Commissioner
Wiggins's Community Meetings would be a good place to start meetings back.
Commissioner Wiggins said it could be a part of the 30 minute break out. Ms. Hinson
said she would work on that.
Commissioner Britton asked when the Commission is going to have a
conversation about events. The event planners are tired, the residents are tired and she is
tired of the conversation. Many of the residents do not understand the Commission
cannot have a conversation with each other about things, except in a meeting. Mayor
Woodruff asked Jennifer Brooks, Special Events Coordinator if this would be ready for
discussion at the next meeting. She said yes.
Commissioner Britton asked staff to have a round Sanford bike rack
installed out front of the Sanford Pizza Company.
Vice Mayor Wiggins thanked Lisa Jones, Parks & Grounds Director, Jerry
Sullivan, Leisure Services Manager and Mr. Thomas for everything they do to help the
children.
the playoffs.
Vice Mayor Wiggins said last night one of his sons made NFL History in
Commissioner Britton asked if the MLK Committee ever received a
Proclamation for all the hard work the committee does on preparing the events. She
would like to make sure the Committee is recognized.
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Commissioner Austin acknowledged Gabe Davis for breaking an all-time
NFL Record in the playoff games last night and would like the City to recognize him.
Mayor Woodruff agreed and said he would like to present him with a key to the City and
a proclamation.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:16 PM.